Basildon: Total council home sell-off?

The council has estimated it needs to spend about £131 million over the next ten years to repair and improve its housing stock - but it only has about £3-4 million each year for the work.

Under a radical plan being proposed to councillors today, all remaining council properties could be passed from council responsibility to an outside landlord.

Officers have stressed the 'critical' importance of the issues to be raised at the housing committee meeting - the sell-off plan will be one of the most important decisions discussed in the council's history.

But they urge councillors not to rush into making a decision based on information available, which is now incomplete.

Council officers have already paid a firm of private consultants £10,000 to help them review their options, and it is recommended they continue to do so at a possible further cost of £10,000.

Councillor Paul Kirkman, housing committee chairman, said: "We are considering five options available to us because we are obliged to by the Government. It is not just because of our dire need for investment."

Options likely to be rejected include:

Handing over around 4,000 of the council's properties to housing associations and other bodies. This could increase costs for remaining tenants.

A gradual 'trickle' transfer of properties to outside landlords. This option is not liked by the Government.

Using private money to finance renovation. This could have an impact on future council revenue from the Government.

Possible solutions include:

The hope that changes to the way councils receive money from the Government for housing will bring more money to Basildon to pay for repairs.

The potentially controversial transfer of all properties to a housing association or other similar body, which would fund the necessary improvements but would create other problems for the council.

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